Toscana Restaurant & Lounge
1859 W Central Rd, Arlington Heights, IL, 60005
Toscana Restaurant & Lounge Menu
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Appetizers
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Salads
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Pasta
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Homemade Pasta
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Baked Dishes
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Seafood With Pasta
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Chicken
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Veal
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Fish
Healthy Meal suggestions for Toscana Restaurant & Lounge
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Appetizers
-
Salads
-
Pasta
-
Homemade Pasta
-
Baked Dishes
-
Seafood With Pasta
-
Chicken
-
Veal
-
Fish
Visit below restaurant in Arlington Heights for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arlington Heights for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1859 W Central Rd
Arlington Heights, IL, 60005 - Phone (847) 222-1989
- Website https://www.toscanaarlington.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Bonnie A.
It was a Saturday night, my kids were starving and my nerves were frayed but our wait was worth it! While the kids whined they brought bread. Once seated we had nothing but an excellent experience with the wait staff! I had the heart healthy sauce with penne. It was excellent. The broccoli spinach and mushrooms were the perfect texture in the delicious marinara. My husband had the lamb shank special. He loved it. It melted in your mouth and the mash potatoes were excellent. He's a butcher's son from Idaho so he knows his meat & potatoes! Added bonus: they have gluten free pasta available too and the staff was very accommodating to make specials gluten free too. My only negative is their wait area is too small but maybe not as big a concern in warmer weather.
(4)Christina G.
Not impressed. First off I had veal marsala... the sauce was way too sweet. I asked for my side pasta to be a vodka sauce, it was awful. It was a combination of marinara & vodka? Gross. Plus served w/ angel hair pasta. Vodka sauce should be served with penne noodles.... My Fiancé ordered their "special" which was a skirt steak. He ordered it medium/rare. It came well done... Service was awful. Our waiter kept handing all our dishes to the wrong ppl at the table. Seriously? Only 4 ppl and she couldn't keep anything straight. We were passing our soups, salads & dishes around the table to the correct person... Irritating. Any way NOT going back. Not worth $50 for 2 awful dishes.
(1)Mary Grace M.
We went to Toscana for my sons birthday celebration. In his pasta dish he discovered a small rubber band. When brought to someone's attention, he was given a new meal. It would have been nice had they made a small effort to give him his scoop of ice cream dessert free but instead we were fully charged for everything we ordered, not even given a complimentary cup of coffee. Needless to say adios Toscana.
(2)Heather W.
Had a very nice dinner at Toscana. I enjoyed my tortellini in a mushroom, pea and prosciutto cream sauce. The red snapper looked fabulous and the chicken parmigiano was very good. My date had the manicotti with meatballs and liked it. Thought that the warm bread was well done and enjoyed the beef and cabbage soup quite a bit. With our bottle of wine 4 of us were out the door for $120 with tip. I would definitely go back.
(4)Susan A.
This place is fantastic. The food was great, service was fantastic and the prices were very reasonable. I highly suggest this restaurant! Yummy
(5)Mike C.
I am the guy who discovered the rubber band in my meal/mouth while eating at Toscana a couple of weeks ago. My review on here was scathing, to say the least. But I am happy to report that, after my review on here and Facebook, Tosacana has graciously offered me a complimentary meal to rectify the situation. I am very happy because besides it being the proper gesture it allows me to continue to enjoy their delicious food as I rescind my pledge to never go their again. I am very pleased.
(5)Ellen G.
Presented a Restaurant.com certificate with no expiration date. Manager informed us that they would not accept since Restaurant.com was out of business. I wonder fi Restaurant.com knows that they're out of buisness.
(1)Shelly M.
My boyfriend and I tried this place out on a Wednesday and it was packed! I really enjoyed the focaccia bread that they gave us when we sat down. I tried the vodka pasta which was delicious. My boyfriend ordered the chicken marsala which was pretty good. I would order the vodka pasta again. Our server was very friendly. A few negatives: The service was slow. We also ordered the calamari, which was not great. Caesar salad was provided and it was nothing special.
(3)Rose D.
Do not let their location in a mostly empty strip mall turn you away...inside is a quaint little Italian restaurant with murals covering the walls, average service & a nice menu full of delicious food. We come here regularly with Busia & we've never had anything here that wasn't good. Also, they place a basket of deeelish bread on the table & there's both butter & olive oil on your table if you care to slather or dip your bread. If you sign up for their emails they often have some great deals & they normally have a coupon in the local paper as well. On our last visit the marinara sauce was a bit on the salty side, but it's usually quite good - and even a bit salty the sauce was still decent with nice chunks of tomatoes in it. They also have a room in the back with additional seating or for larger groups.
(3)Donna R.
Oh Toscana... you have truly captured my heart... I placed a reservation for Toscana on yelp reviews alone--had never heard of the place, but the reviews seemed great and one look-thru the menu online I was sold. Italian is probably my favorite cuisine and there are plenty of Italian joints around, but this establishment is really fantastic and better than any chain. Don't let a strip mall place fool you--it was PACKED and everybody just has the most pleasant look on their face. The room is very noisy, but don't let that bother you--the wait staff is amazing and are there to make sure your dining experience is wonderful. We visited this restaurant on Friday night for my Mom's birthday and everyone was pleased with their food. Everything from the flavored olive oil, to the bread, to the salads, to the entrees, and to the dessert --was excellent. Portions are a good size, not too big, not too small and definitely worth the price. $15 for Veal--yes please!!! And my huge glass of House Riesling for $6 wasn't too shabby either :) There was never a moment where we weren't supplied with bread and our drinks were always properly attended to. For 6 people (drinks, dinner, and dessert) the bill was only $200, you simply cannot beat that!!
(5)Patrick L.
The delicious food is what keeps me coming back, however their very questionable service is also what keeps me avoiding dine-in at all cost and sticking to carry-out. My wife and I discovered this place literally right behind our condo so it was an obvious choice as our go-to spot for good quick Italian food. The Carbonara with Cappellini noodles is amazing! It's the best Carbonara I've had outside of my travels to Florence and Rome, Italy which says a lot. Their Tiramisu is consistently delicious as is their salads. Prices are extremely affordable too. Mind you we have not actually dined-in yet because my experiences even with their to-go service has left me with mixed feelings so I would not expect their dine-in to be any better. After 6 carry-outs we either received the wrong order, the incorrect type of noodles requested, overcooked and inconsistent pasta, and a lack of competent phone and social skills from the various hosts who took our orders. My guess is they must hire local high school kids to play host. Overall my complaints are minor and even if we didn't live behind the restaurant I think we would still continue give them our business because their food is just that good. If they moved out from their sketchy strip mall location to, say, downtown Arlington Hts and they were able to improve customer experience I say they could EASILY go upscale.. Like I said, their food is just that good.
(3)Fred V.
I had the skirt steak vesuvio special which was cook perfectly to my specification. The vesuvio sauce had a good garlic presence. Likely too much for some dinners. My wife and I loved it. My wife's meat ravioli was cook al dente and had a good flavor with a marinara that allows the flour of the tomatoes to come through. Also she had a side of italian sausage that was the star. The fennel permeated the finely ground pork which was soft and delicious. This italian sausage was not a traditional version my grandmother made but still was a version that I want more of.
(4)Erin B.
This is my new favorite go-to Italian place. Joe & Giuseppe's portions are getting more meager and this place is still what you'd expect from a small family owned Italian restaurant. I've always had good service and my favorite is their focaccia bread!
(5)Christine S.
My meal was excellent (stuffed shells) and no one I dined with had any complaints. The wine specials were good and the staff was nice. My one big complaint is that the service was painfully slow. The drinks came out promptly and I could tell the waitress knew her stuff but it seemed like the kitchen could not get it together. 30 minutes for apps? 10-15 more for salads? Another 30 for entrees? Eeeek. If it had been bad food, I'd really been pissed because I'd waited over an hour for it!
(3)Lizzie H.
Highly disappointed despite the raves of this place. Food was blend - no drink menu besides wine. Older crowds and servers/cleaners kept coming by every 5 minutes asking If we were done with dinner. I just wanted to eat in peace without feeling rushed! Don't plan on returning.
(2)Bradley S.
This place is Authentic Italian!! Homemade food, Italian cuisine and it is hidden away in a small plaza in Arlington heights. It's homemade food, with a great drink menu. No it's not a place for kids, and no it's not fun when it's busy. Go on better nights like Wednesday later or Thursday nights after 8:00 pm. This place is awesome, I get pasta every time and the bread is to die for.
(5)B H.
I was there once and NOT that impressed. Thanks to Mike, i will NEVER go back. Rubber Band in food and they didnt seem to care! What kind of business place is this. ALL the meals should have been taken care off! NO charge! If they dont care about that, they wont care about anything else! Maybe they Like to serve rubber bands!!! There are TONS of Italian restaurants out there, why go to a place that is so terrible! What ELSE do they serve????????
(1)Steve H.
This place is a mainstay for my family in the area. Service is very kind and courteous by the Romanian family (I believe that's where they are from) that run the business. I would have marked this maybe a star higher, but last time I was there the seafood risotto that I ordered was a little bland and had a shattered mussel shell mixed into it. That whole experience kinda sucked but usually it isn't that bad.
(3)Asish K.
This place is just awesome went there several times. Food is just amazing and always get friendliest service.
(5)Tamara C.
The servings were great and they provide you with bread while you wait for your food. We had the cheese bread which was also tasty. Nice atmosphere.
(3)Ali R.
This little gem is a great find when you're surrounded by chain restaurants to your left, right, up, down, turn yourself around. Oops, got off track. But yeah! The service is charming, attentive, yet non-intrusive. The food is great for it's price point and it's a toughie to find a place that makes their pasta in-house. The vodka sauce has always been a favorite of mine and they do it very well. Their specials are always a hit and the more I come, the more I'm impressed. It's good to have a little local Italian flavor outside of the norm.
(4)Cheryl S.
The food was good, Pizza not good. The owner is awful. I wanted to have party in the back room for 30 people. I was told i could have pizza and salad and not use the party package menu where the least expensive option is $17 PP. The owner sat down with me and figured out the per person price then in front of me deducted tax and gratuity and came up with a price which he circled and said that would be his price and that is not enough profit for him to let me have the room for 30 people for a lunch party. This is after he agreed to it on the phone. He was having 2 other parties later that day in the same room so it was not like he was losing money on the day. He was very rude about it and totally changed his mind after he agreed to let me have the party. When i said this would be 30 people that have never been here and might be new customers and he did not care.
(1)Z A.
Visited here last night based on the Yelp reviews, and the only thing I can guess is that the regular chef was on vacation... We had the raviolis (both meat as well as cheese) and the eggplant parmigiana, both covered in their "red" sauce. The raviolis didn't have a lot of flavor and both dishes were disappointing because of their red sauce. It was basically tomato paste, canned tomatoes, and salt/pepper. ADD SOME SEASONING! Grill some onions, peppers, SOMETHING, and add to this tasteless covering. They do get one extra star for their amazing bread, but otherwise, wait until the regular chef comes back to work!
(2)Sarah B.
I had the Fettuccine Alfredo and Garlic Bread. I hated the Fettuccine Alfredo. I prefer Rosati's pasta.The garlic bread wasn't much better. It didn't taste very garlicky, just tasted like burnt, crunchy toast. My gf had a different experience with her meal. She ordered the Fruttie de Mare and the Clams. She LOVED them. For my meal I give 2 stars. For her meal, she gives 4 stars. For the service, I give 3 stars. The waitress and bus-staff were a little too attentive for me. Seemed like they were hovering, just waiting for us to be done with our meal so they could clean up. Ugh. I will probably never come here again. I'll stick with my Rosati's.
(3)Megan K.
This review is based on carry out only. My husband and I order from here quite often. Food is excellent, service is fast and it's always hot! Love this little gem :)
(5)Marisa A.
There are so many great Italian restaurants in the Chicago area, if you only had time to visit one, this is the restaurant you would regret to miss! We found this place from the yelp reviews as we often do when we are traveling. It's in an unassuming strip-mall almost un-noticeable except for the patio seating outside. There were a few lone diners, but mainly groups of families and friends. As busy as the small dining-room was, it looked like they did an equal amount of business with people calling for take-out. The staff attends to each table in a manner found only at the Michelin four-star restaurants I've visited. Not a single need goes un-met, before you even realize you had the need. They offer an extensive wine list for almost every palette. But this place is about the food. Oh, the food!! We were treated with home-baked breads coupled with quality olive oil at the table. The appetizers were outstanding, but it is the entrees that really shine. I had one of their many specials not on the regular menu: Melt in your mouth briscole that exploded with flavor. "Special" is an understatement here to clue you in to what you MUST try. The sauce was one of those cooked-all-day melds of flavor that almost made me light-headed because it tasted soooooo good. I was instantly transported back in my mind to another off-the-beaten path restaurant I found in Venice. While I cannot say whether or not this place was Northern of Southern Italian cuisine, I can attest that it was FANTASTIC!!! My husband had the manicotti made from fresh noodles and a distinctively different red sauce that most certainly was produced from a long slow simmer. Our teenage daughter chose eggplant parmigiana that for once made me reconsider her vegetarian choices as worthwhile. My only regret for the meal was that as first-timers we ate way-too quickly. This is the kind of place that you bring your closest friends and family. It's the closest thing you can find to Italy without actually flying there. It is special and like all great meals is meant to be shared in the company of people you love because this is food made with love. Not only for special occasions, but this restaurant is all about the experience of what dining should be every day of the week!
(5)Jen H.
I fully support the local businesses. I really support them when the food is prepared well and tastes great. The sauces are wonderfully seasoned. The calamari Toscana appetizer is a must have and is included every-time we eat there. The garlic, lemon, and light sauté blend together perfectly. Pizza has a great sauce and the right amount cheese. We really enjoy Toscana.
(4)John H.
Always worth the drive! We live a little over an hour away but have made the trip several times over the past few years. The owners alway recognize us and thank us for making the trip to see them. We have had Teddy as our server and trust me she has an impeccable memory! The ambiance is charming and the service friendly from the bus boy's on up. If the Lamb Shank or Rib Eye Parmigiano are on special and get them they are special treats. I also love the pizza!
(5)Alex K.
I saw the high ratings on Yelp so I went to check it out. When my family arrived, I was a bit uncertain since from the outside, the place doesn't look too great, but the inside is lovely. Very clean, inviting, and fashionable in appearance. The waitress was very helpful in helping identify several vegetarian options, and all of them were fantastic. The brushetta, minestrone soup, and pasta with vodka sauce were all wonderful, and for dessert I had a great affogato. The price ended up being about $40 for three people. (3 main courses, one appetizer, one dessert.) Lastly, it was a small thing, but I noticed and I appreciated it. We were the only customers when we had arrived. Some time into our meal, I put my coat back on since I was cold. Afterward, the air conditioning turned to heat. I thought that it was very considerate to notice and do something about it when I hadn't even complained. Great good, fast and friendly service, beautiful atmosphere, and inexpensive. We will definitely be back.
(5)Gail A.
Cute little neighborhood atmosphere...However, first dinner was not a comfortable experience. I sat at bar for dinner after hectic day. All that could be heard was Polish speaking help. Four servers including bartender. Too many people standing around, obviously board. But the volume of their conversation was distracting and inappropriate. The "Manager" was not interactive with clientele. He even sat at bar and spoke with a patron. For such a small place, it could have be more welcoming....going to Joe & Guiseppe's next time in the mood for pasta.
(1)Donna E.
This is one of our favorite " Birthday Lunch" meeting places...never have been disappointed. The salmon is delish and 3 out of 6 of us had it. When we get quiet you know we are seriously eating! And the lemon cake is to die for...tiramisu is also a crowd pleaser. The staff is courteous And attentive....prices are reasonable. Yummy...can't wait to go back!
(5)mary b.
This place has delicious Italian food. The homemade pastas remind me of Italy and the sauces are perfect. Tried the cavatelli with vodka sauce and cheese ravioli, we finished the entire plate. For apptd we had the shrimp kalamata dish which was out this world and fresh caprese salad, yum! This place is a true hidden gem, next imei am in Arlington heights I will go there!
(4)Gloria B.
This was the first time I tried Toscana, even though I've lived in the area for almost 20 years. Somehow I totally missed this neighborhood restaurant. I got take-out for my mom and me and it was pretty darned good. My Heart Healthy spaghetti (tomato sauce with broccoli, mushrooms and spinach) was excellent. I got the cheese lasagna for my mom and it was good too, but I preferred my entree. Portion sizes were very respectable, with at least one or two more meals from each as leftovers. Each came with a house salad which was serviceable and a side of bread. The bread was a little on the dry side, but OK overall. We got one cannoli to split and it was one of the richest cannolis I've ever had. And the shell was covered in chocolate - a first. We'll definitely be adding Toscana to our take-out menus and I'll try dining in as well.
(4)Tracy M.
What a great neighborhood Italian place! We've been here a couple times when visiting the family and everyone is always pleased with the food. It was a Tuesday night and the place was packed but the service was still friendly and attentive. The pastas are great but I think the star of the show is the calamari Toscana...drool...
(4)Jasmin V.
Not what I expected from an Italian place in a strip mall. Got a good deal on resturants.com so decided to try it. I enjoyed the calamari. Doesn't have an extensive menu but good solid choices. Nothing fancy here just good Italian food better than a chain resturant.
(4)Adrienne K.
Looked for a good Italian restaurant for quite awhile. Finally found it, Toscana... Best food, service and pricing . Everything we have ever ordered here has been superb. Highly recommend , for authentic Italian cooking, not like any franchise.
(5)Paula M.
This is the fourth time that I have been to this restaurant and it usually has been good but tonight was terrible. We came here to have a nice relaxing dinner to catch up with our daughter who came home from college. But instead we had an uncomfortable experience. We felt so rushed. Our dinners came out too quick. I didn't even finish my salad and the waitress was standing over me waiting to take my plate. My husband and I ordered Linguini and Calamari which we felt was microwaved and the calamari was very tough which is unusual. My daughter had gnocchi which she liked. Also the bread was very good I am not an exceptionally slow eater, but again the waitress was standing by our table while I finished my dinner. I had to box it because it was so uncomfortable. There were a lot of people waiting, so I am sure that is why they were rushing us. We will not come back here for a long time. There are too many other good restaurants in town.
(2)Bill M.
We live just down the street from Toscana and tonight we finally tried it for our anniversary. We really enjoyed our time there! Very cute little place with a VERY attentive, friendly (and traditional Italian!) staff. We sat at the bar while we waited for our outdoor table and our very lovely bartender (Gayla??) took very good care of us. We were mixed on the decor. My wife found the Italian Village scene painted on the wall a bit tacky. I was okay with it - a bit cheesy but I kinda like that stuff but not everyone will. Pretty good wine selection, a very nice frog leg appetizer, decent pasta, VERY good seafood risotto (my wife said she never had risotto with that much seafood and easier on the rice) - they really don't skimp on that dish! We sat outside with mixed results. Romantic yes (once you eventually tune out the fact that you're looking out onto a very lame parking lot). However, in the summer, the bugs out there were VERY bad which definitely put a damper. They lit torches but that did very little. B/c it was a hot night, we got the wild berry Italian Ice and shared it (which was very refreshing). My take on the service: slow, yes. But in their defense, I honestly think they took a very traditional Italian approach to dinner (slow down, don't rush to your next course or your desert, etc). I've seen very traditional Italian places do this so I really didn't hold it against them. I'd say prices were fairly reasonable: $116 including tip (minus $25 restaurant.com gift certificate) for very large frog leg app, two above average salads, pasta dish, generous seafood risotto, decent sized desert, a bottle or wine, then 2 extra wines by the glass. Bottom line, very nice job, Toscana, we'll be back!
(4)Jan T.
Went to Toscana several times before realizing that the food is very inconsistant in quality and quantitiy. It's also very noisy due to bare floors and close quarters! Decided not to return as they didn't correct their mistakes. Some of my friends also decided to go elsewhere for lunch. Just down the way is Sam's, which has greatly improved since being taken over by the owners nephew. It now feels like home and the food is very good, consistant, plentiful, and reasonably priced. They don't have outdoor seating, however. But if you're in the area, try out this neighborhood spot that's been here for a long time - and will hopefully be here for a long time to come! I'm giving Toscana's two stars for the bread they sometimes bring to the table and the pleasant waitress who has served us on a few occasions.
(2)Ashley M.
Food is okay but the waitress screwed up my carry out order and charged me an extra pasta dinner when I just wanted a chicken dinner with a side pasta.
(2)Tim M.
Had veal sandwich for lunch. Not amazing but not bad.
(3)Paula C.
We went to Toscana in Arlington Heights, IL Friday night! What a great little hidden away place! The food was awesome the service was terrific. We had tickets to a show and were on a limited time frame. Our server made sure that all our food came out fast and we didn't get to eat it all but we tried everything! I will definitely go there again when I have a good amount of time to enjoy a lovely Italian meal. We started out with the special appetizer- baked clams... LOVELY! And you good feel and taste the clams. Oh! Wait forgot to tell you about the bread, which is placed on the table... delicious. The oil is spiced up with lots of seasoning so make sure you try that too. I had salad and my friend ordered soup.. unfortunately we knew we wouldn't have enough time to eat these so we took them to go and our server was more than happy to do that for us. I ordered the veal parmasean, which was very delicious and my only complaint was that it was two thin slices of veal. I would have rather had one thick slice, but the price was right at $15. My sister ordered a shrimp and brocoli dish, shrimp cooked perfectly! We also ordered a side of meatballs, because being Italian ourselves we have determined that the best way to see how good an Italian restaurant is is to try the meatballs. And these were nearly as good as my own... not AS good as Grandma's but very very good. Hidden away in a strip mall, the atmosphere is very cozy and I would highly recommend this place to anyone, Italian or not.
(4)Tom M.
I thought the food was very good. They are a little to attentive and started asking if we wanted to box some dinners while others at the table were still eating. Also it would be nice if they updated their website with current prices.
(4)Kathleen P.
I've been dreaming of a new restaurant in my neighborhood. In my dream, this place would be an enchanting Italian restaurant. The walls would be covered in frescoes that would make me feel like I was really in Italy. There would also be outdoor dining, and this area would be very charming, as well. Their pasta would have to be homemade. Their pizza would be delightful. This was my dream. Suddenly, as I drove past the strip mall at Central and New Wilke- there it was! I couldn't believe my eyes so I quickly pulled into the parking lot and jumped out of my car. As I approached Toscana I slowly realized that my dream had come true. I couldn't be sure until I tasted the food, so I took a couple of delivery menus with me. Later that night, as my husband and I enjoyed perfect, tender fried calamari and Delicious thin crust pizza, - I realized: Dream so come true ; )
(5)J B.
Good food and drink in large portions. Friendly. prompt service. Strip mall otside yields to attractive interior.
(4)Christina A.
One of the reasons I love the Chicago suburbs, you ask? Delightfully-friendly and delicious restaurants, surprising found in strip malls. . . Toscana is one of those delights. This evening I was invited to dinner with my aunt and uncle, who live in Arlington Heights, and consider Toscana to be a regular restaurant in their dining repertoire. My uncle, a fabulous cook, who has even been on TV for cooking, says this is one of their favorite 'I've had too long of a day to pretend to cook like Rachel Ray' restaurants. I can see why they love the restaurant after spending just one evening at Toscana. The staff at Toscana is sweet, neighborly and warm; I kind of felt like they were all giving me special attention when I walked in, but after watching for a while, that's just how they are - very refreshing - I haven't felt that in a while. The wine list is easy, drinkable and quick to the table (hell, yeah). The food is non-chain, family-recipe styled and delicious. Our entire table followed the 'Toscana Specials' and every dish was delightful and well cooked. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and will be back again. Oh, I had the penne pasta with Italian sausage (which was cooked to perfection), roasted garlic, spinach and dry ricotta, along with the roasted lentil soup. mmm. hmmm. Recap: A happy stomach and a smile of my face when I left, knowing I'll be back (for the dish my aunt had that looked amazing).
(4)Laura B.
I have been here more than 2 dozen times over the last 2 years and bring friends, family, dates. It used to be terrific. Now they no longer offer pizza at night, and the prices have been greatly increased, and the food quality has decreased. I had dover sole and it was so overcooked you couldn't cut it and they took forever to debone it at the table and tore it apart. I am so disappointed since I live right behind them in a condo and it is so convenient, but now so undependable and embarrassing.
(2)Carla P.
Went here recently and used a gift certificate from restaurant.com . Evening was excellent! The service and the food. Can't wait to go again! And will use another gift certificate!
(5)Deyu Z.
Pretty good Italian restaurant. We went there 2 times both in large group. Most of us enjoyed the food over there. The service is also good even when they are crowded. I tried lamb shank and it is fantastic. I also love the fried calamari. They are very tender inside. Perfectly fried to me. They serve two kinds of breads and I enjoyed the pizza bread. We also ordered dessert to share, and they all are fairly good. I would recommend you give it a try. Btw, I have very high standard in terms of rating. 3 stars for me means I will go back. I rarely give anything more than 3.
(3)Stephanie M.
My parents had recommended Toscana, in Arlington Heights. Unfortunately, many suburbs are saturated with chain restaurants...like the Woodfield area! To find a place like this, in a suburban strip mall, is sometimes difficult. I finally decided to stop in and give them a try. At first I was turned off by their decor, but once I got past it, I found a hidden gem. I have eaten dinner there a few times with my parents. Each time I try a new entree and each time I think I have found a new favorite. Tonight I tried the Tilapia Domenica. It was very light and tasty. An added bonus is the restaurant.com coupon. If you are looking for a new dining experience in the NW burbs, venture out to Arlington Heights.
(5)Troy H.
Just got back from New York, where we ate in "Little Italy". Toscana is far better than anything we had in New York. Pasta was great, service was great, and can't beat the prices. And either the secret on this place is out, or just because it was the Saturday before "Mother's Day", but the place was packed!!! Even still, we were in and out in an hour. $90 for five people, including drinks. We spent $60 in Little Italy in NYC with no drinks and 3 people and the food, while good, wasn't this. Don't let the low visability strip-mall location fool you on this one. We will be back!!
(5)Gerry G.
Avoid this place. Our evening started with reservations that were never written down. It didn't matter, but I would have been upset if it did. Next, we sat down and discovered that all three of our water glasses were dirty. We happened to notice another table sent their dirty glasses back as well. This is inexcusable. The service was spotty, alternating between long gaps when we needed help and hovering. The highlight of the evening was when we left cash for the bill, the hostess raced over to grab it off our table before we had even finished gathering our belongings, muttering something about not wanting to lose the money. The food was adequate--the scallops were overdone, and the mussels were lukewarm at best when served. The only redeeming quality is that the pasta is homemade.
(1)Dave G.
Have been here a few time and the food has always been very good. It's been pretty busy at lunchtime, yet service was not an issue. Fresh warm bread with good oil and cheese at the table is a plus. Soups are always good also. Last time i had the clam chowder and the baked gnocchi special; pancetta, spinach, and lots of garlic and mozzarella. I know...I just can't resist a bowl of clam chowder when offered one. Both were fantastic. Have had the veal parm and a few other dishes, all very good. Dishes were all served steaming hot, which is also a plus. The few cream sauces of theirs I've had were fairly rich with tons of flavor, which is perfect for me. Will be back for sure.
(4)Chris D.
I had lunch with two friends here today. Everyone from the hostess to the waitress to the busboy/girl were very friendly. Service was quite efficient. I had an excellent pasta primavera with angel hair, while one friend enjoyed eggplant parmagiana and the other a turkey panini. The bread was warm and fresh, too. We split the tiramisu, and that was also superb. I definitely will return.
(5)Mike K.
We went here during the week. The food awful! I don't know how anyone could of enjoyed their food. It was four of us and each ordered a different for a different section of their menu. I ordered the Veal Francese which was decent at best. My Mom order this seafood platter which was fried and disgusting. My dad ordered the gnocki in the vodka sauce. which tasted like it was fresh out of a can from jewel. My girlfriend ordered the chicken piccitta It was okay but ive had better at many other places. Our waitress sucked absolutely no personality when i asked her to describe the sea food special she looked at me like I was the neediest person in the world. The layout of the restaurant is beautiful but everything else sucked! i will never be back here!
(1)Dee S.
I recently tried Toscana and can only say it was delicious. Other than being a little chilly inside everything was fantastic. Waitress was very attentive, there fresh hot bread server at the table, and amazing pasta. We didn't order apps since we got bread and salad with our meal. Very pretty inside and a great place to take friends and family. It's a little loud inside, but any place almost packed on a Tuesday night is worth it!! I would recommend trying this place out in the burbs instead of going to the chain Italian restaurants. Was not dissapointed at all. Would have given this place a 5 if the temp had been higher inside.
(4)Joe L.
ate here last night w/t family & friends...1st time....will be back....great food.....fantastic service........and a 10% off coupon...wow........
(4)Judi H.
I love this place. I have been coming here since it opened. Delicious food, great atmosphere and fantastic prices. The food and service are consistently good. I just returned from a trip to Italy and the pasta and sauces at Toscana are comparable to the food I had there. They just started delivery service. Yeah!
(5)E P.
The food was mediocre. Not good, not bad--tasted similiar to Corner Bakery's pasta. Everything was ok, but the reason why I gave just 2 starts instead of 3 is because of the horrible presentations of the food. Every dish that came out looked like someone had already started eating it and gave us the leftovers. They should really spend a few more seconds making the food look more appetizing. In addition, our waitress was really rude, especially when she found out that we had a restaurant.com coupon.
(2)Elizabeth T.
GREAT FOOD! GREAT SERVICE! GREAT PRICES! Found this place via restaurant.com . We got a gift certificate from restaurant.com . The place is in a strip mall so I was not expecting much. The place is very much a local hang out. A lot of senior citizens so I figured it must be good since they have a lot of loyal followers. Cheezy Italian villa murals but I could live with that. I came for the food anyway. The food was really good! Service was top notch. Prices were comparable to that of Olive Garden's but the food sure ain't "Olive Garden/chain restaurant/blah & greasy". Only complaint is that silverware/glasses were dirty. We asked for clean ones.
(4)Tricia B.
Toscana is a little pricey for the lunch crowd at work, but we seem to order at least once or twice a week. I love the Salmon here, it is always cooked and seasoned well. I would not recommend their steak salad, the steak was overdone and the dressing was mediocre at best.
(3)Mark M.
This has swiftly become our go to place for lunch the food and service never disappoints the baked clams are some of the best I have ever had the bread is always fresh and the wine list is reasonably priced and uniformly solid
(5)Megan T.
My husband and I went for lunch one day and thought the food was good. Their crab bisque was VERY good with chucks of crab meat! I also really enjoyed my fettucini Alfredo and would go back just for that. It can get loud inside and the waiter could be more friendly. Prices were average.
(4)Joseph P.
Just like Wendy C, we found this place in our Entertainment Book, and the crowd of cars on a Thursday night was impressive (they are, however, right next door to another resturant). The strip mall at first seems almost deserted (because it has 2 community centers as main occupants), but the place itself is very pleasant - just don't place too much credence on the "and lounge" part of the name, unless you you like to "lounge" on a bar stool, at the high bar, which is one side of the same room. The food, however, is the point of it all, and it is surprisingly good, and priced very well. I had the Veal Florentina, an unusual dish that works well and is generous with the Veal. My wife had the Linguini with white clam sauce. Each was a winner. Both come with soup (Wonderful) or salad (basic, but good), and some wonderful breads with dipping oil. Both are $15. Service was cordial and professional. The crowd was a generally more "mature" one, and it had a decided city feel, quite unlike the neighborhood. We intend to make this a regular place, though it is a fair drive for a weekday dinner.
(5)Bella S.
Had a gift certificate for this restaurant. Was leary about going due to some unfavorable reviews but since we had a gift certificate....aaaahhh what the heck! We were greeted as soon as we entered and were offered a table near the door or we could wait for a table further from the cold draft. It was very appreciated to be offered an option. We chose to sit near the door and we weren't all that affected by the cold air. The server was pleasant, our water glasses were refilled regularly, and we were offered another basket of bread. I had the tilapia filet and it was very good. My friend had the eggplant parmesan and she enjoyed it as well as enjoyed the red sauce. The prices weren't outrageous either. All in all we will return (even without a certificate).
(4)Michelle H.
Wow, was this a great surprise! Everything we had was wonderful, hands down. Since we had a restaurant.com certificate, we got appetizers--hubby had the pizza bread and loved it, I had mussels with red sauce, which were also quite good. The main courses we ordered came with soup or salad--I chose the salad, which I wished I could have had a lot of, as it comes with a beautifully balanced balsamic vinaigrette. Hubby got the cream of chicken and rice soup, and raved about it the same way I did my salad. He also loved his chicken marsala (comes with a small side of "average" rigatoni with marinara), and I got one of the specialty dishes on the last page: 8 fingers boscailola. Mmmmmmm...could have easily eaten way too much of this, too. We were too full for dessert, but we loved watching another table getting bananas foster--they made it right there, tableside, and the smell wafted over to us (I don't even like that, but it smelled great!) Our server was very nice, just the right level of attentiveness. We will be back, that is certain!
(5)Julie O.
Solid! I have ordered from the catering menu this past week for our RMHS FB boys...the chicken parm was their favorite! You get 40 smaller pieces with a full order...meant for 20 people....it is great for sharing!!! Love the mussels as well! And my husband is crazy about the soups. Always solid!
(4)John I.
We couldn't be bothered to light the grill during our impromptu family get-together. Let's just order in. Family indecisive, one starts to improvise a reality TV-style pilot, channeling the Snickers commercial, "You aren't yourself when you're hungry," and being whiny, instead of his fun self; everyone else started to slowly join in. "Wait, this isn't an improvisation, it's really happening," I thought! Someone had to take charge; so it was I. Mom suggests Toscana. There's a reason that moms are the best. With my pencil and Toscana's website, I quickly got consensus before the blood sugar got too low. Start with a couple Cesar salads? Check. Five pastas, family-style? Check. Mom always gets the Tortellini Paesano; pesto is to my tongue as is music to my ears; you can never go wrong with too much garlic, hence aglio & olio; we mix it up with the Gnocchi Romano, and we'd better get at least one thing that's healthy, so we round it out with the Heart Healthy. Let's also invest in a tiramisu and a cannoli to ensure that the meal ends with a sweet taste in our mouths. I called Toscana. The woman who answered was very friendly, and fine with me figuring out salad dressings, when it turned out that a side salad came with each pasta. It will be ready in 20 minutes. I was there in 20, but... Wow, a desolate, half-occupied strip-mall. Not too promising! I was starting to worry about Mom's faculties... But the woman who took my order was there, the food was ready, my card was run; I grabbed the two shopping bags by the handles, ran to the car, squealed out of the desolate parking lot, and was home in 5. Hungry family was happily ready. Food runner/Yelper gives 5 stars to the take-out service. The food was good, basic Italian fare. Nothing notable, but nothing bad. Mom was right about the Tortellini Paesano. Nothing wrong with a stuffed-pasta with a sauce & vittles reminiscent of carbonara. The pesto and Heart Healthy were also tasty, and it would have been hard to screw up the aglio & olio (though I've seen it done). I was of two "minds" regarding the gnocchi (those things have always looked like little brains to me anyway). The gnocchi themselves were the perfect consistency, with the right "chew." But the tomato sauce on them seemed a little thin--they really could have used a heartier sauce (I was thinking pesto, as I chewed my fettucine that was coated in it.) Dad had been worried that we wouldn't have bread, but that came with it too. Mom was spot on in her suggestion. The whole family perked up after lunch and went on to play a rousing board game, had fun, and went on with our lives. I love Snickers, but if you don't have one in the house, Toscana is a good alternative to keep the moods elevated.
(4)Jen B.
Excellent homemade pasta with vodka cream sauce. Homemade minestrone soup and delicious bread. Will definitely be back.
(5)Mike K.
Always great food and service. Great wine selection. A lot of daily food specials to choose from. Don't judge a book by its cover. It's in a strip mall in a strange location but it is a hidden gem. Had a last minute change of plans Easter morning and called in a reservation for 9 people 20 minutes in advance. Everything was delicious and the service was great
(5)Michelle S.
My fiancé was leaving on a trip the following day and we were looking to enjoy a peaceful dinner. This place was close to the house with outside seating. I had been there before and it was fine, but not my first choice when I think of good Italian. However, I did not expect to experience the humiliation and discrimination that was shown to me. My fiancé ordered a beer and glass of wine for me. 20 minutes later our server said she was delaying drinks because she wasn't sure she could serve to us. I looked at her confused and asked if she was 21 or new, maybe she couldn't serve? When she answered yes she's 21 and laughed, I then thought okay maybe she needs my ID? I was completely clueless when she fired back "your pregnant." I was shocked and stared at her rather than get up and walk out. My fiancé was also stunned and the couple seated nearby asked if we were on candid camera or that show "what would you do," lol. So we laughed it off and I didn't want to make a scene, however I was completely embarrassed and felt much discrimination obviously against my body. Furthermore, she then offered free ice cream and knocked $5 off our bill. What a joke! Very sad an establishment such as this one, lack in professionalism and simple etiquette. Nice concern, but some advice; next time don't assume and humiliate customers in front of pubic!
(1)Victor R.
Came here on a Friday evening around 5:00 just in time before a lot more people started coming in. It was my first time eating out here, and the experience was great for many reasons. The atmosphere was great! it really had an Italian feel to it, and the space between tables was decent. The staff was very friendly and provided great service. Most importantly the food was excellent.
(5)Andrew R.
Good people, good food. Split 3 entrees among 6 adults and took some home. Arugula salad was the stand out, followed by gnocchi. ..
(4)Sereena C.
My boyfriend and I were in the mood for some Italian food and this place was close by our crib so we decided to go all out. We ordered some pastas, stuffed shells, veal dish, mussels and sausage. We decided carry out and to my surprise the place looks nice and the hostess was very sweet and polite. We got our food and headed back home. Packaging was prepared nicely and the soups were in these nice green cups not like in those Styrofoam cups. I thought the food was just okay but my boyfriend loved it but I'm assuming he would say that because he didn't eat all day so he could eat anything right now lol. The sauce tasted like it came out from a jar, I expected more homemade. The soup was good, I got chicken jambalaya and also the bread and butter wasn't too bad either. The pasta was kind of mushy and stuck together, I don't like eating stuck and mushed together pasta. I had to add the sauce from my mussels dish on to my pasta because it was bit dry. But overall it's okay. Price is reasonable and location was easy to find.
(3)Lauren A.
I was here with a fairly large party for dinner on a Sunday night. The bread, wine and food were all pretty good. I had the chicken cacciatore - two chicken breasts with onions, tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms on top and a side of pasta. I ate pretty much every bite of food on the plate. The portion was a little small compared to what you usually get at an Italian restaurant, but that was fine because the entree came with salad and bread and I was pleasantly full when I left - not ready to collapse or vomit due to overeating. I also had the gelato for dessert (chocolate and vanilla) which was really good. The issue I have with this place is the service. I was going to include our server's name in this review, but I decided not to because I don't want to be that big a of a jerk. First off, she rather nastily carded me (I am 32) when I ordered a glass of wine which would have been fine except for the fact that she did NOT card my 24 year old male cousin when he ordered hard liquor. I can only assume by the way she was smiling and laughing at him all night that she thought he was attractive or something. Also, it really bothers me when servers ask you to pass them dishes or pass someone else their dishes. This waitress was constantly making me and others at my table do her job. Sorry, we are paying to have you bring food out and put it on the table, not to hand it to me just to make me serve the person two places down because you are too lazy. Lastly, I was in the middle of my meal when the waitress and busboys kept coming over and asking for us to pass them dishes others were done with. I was trying to eat... could that not have waited? I felt like I worked there or something. It was bizarre. I would come back here and just hope I got a different waitress. It does seem unfair to judge the restaurant based on one not so good server. Again, the food was pretty good and very reasonably priced. Just be ready to work for it when you get there.
(3)Cheri R.
Very busy due to the power outage in the area and they have no waiting area to sit only stand. They offer gluten free but no gluten free menu. My gluten-free meal was the heart healthy pasta w/mushrooms spinach & added chicken. I would rate that an 8/10. My mother in law loved the caesar salad and my husband liked the chicken cacciatore however he said the angel hair pasta that came with it did not have a taste The sauce was where the flavor was.
(4)Michael G.
Came here a couple nights ago. It was spectacular! Authentic Italian restaurant, great wine and great dining experience. I've been here once before and my friends around Arlington heights love this place. Toscanas workers are also good. Great service, polite, on time with food and come to you when you need them and they're never upset for anything you need,the bread and water comes straight to you as you have a seat! The crispy nice bread comes along with some focaccia which I keep asking for more haha. Then I had the minestrone soup, really nice and a good start. Then I had a chicken vesuvio which was delicious and served at the right time. For desert I had a chocolate cake. My stomach was really full by this time, but it was great. The prices are reasonable and I'd suggest going there. I'll look forward to coming soon again
(5)Dodd V.
Good news and bad news. I am happy to see that someone at Toscana cares enough to read customer reviews and even respond. Unfortunately they don't seem to care much about good customer service and rather than provide a simple "I am sorry for your bad experience" which would have gone a long way, I get the following excuses and insult instead: "For your review of: Toscana Restaurant & Lounge From Toscana Management. We took a little time to reply to you. First of all thank you for trying us. We have been in the business for 25 years, 6 years in this location and we will continue to provide top quality service and reasonable prices. Regarding to the calamari dish, it is one of the most favorite appetizers at our restaurant. We sell over 300 pounds a week. Our soups are daily made with fresh ingredients and our salads are nice blends of iceberg lettuce, green leaves, spring mix and more. We can go on but looks like you will not understand the quality of our food. We are going to continue to serve the best and the freshest Italian-American cuisine to the people who know how to appreciate and understand good quality." Now, while my review was obviously much less than positive, I wanted to make sure I was not out of line so I took a few minutes to read other reviews here on Yelp as well as on Trip Advisor, Urban Spoon and Google. Focusing on reviews within the last 12 months, it seems to be a mixed bag of very positive reviews intermixed with others like mine that were also pretty poor. From this and some of the comments made, it seems possible that Toscana has an issue with consistency. With that said though, from the negative reviews, here are some of the comments that fit my experience and the review I wrote: "Tough calamari", seems as if it were microwaved Calamari was "not great" Salad was "nothing special" Food tasted like it was "frozen" Food tasted like it came (from a can) Pasta was clumped together Tomato sauce tasted as if it were "out of a jar" Food seemed to have been "frozen" and "store bought" Fish was dry Soup was flavorless and made with canned broth "Not professionally run" The last one rings true considering the lovely message that Toscana Management sent me above. Let me tell you folks at Toscana something, I generally give any place a second shot, and certainly if the experience improved I would update my review accordingly. However, when I get a message from the management that is so rude and ignores any sort of customer service whatsoever and simply makes excuses and tells me, the customer I lack the ability to understand the "quality" of their food, I forget the second shot and simply go elsewhere. I think I am sophisticated enough to know when food is cold in the middle rather than hot. I think I know limp lettuce when I get it and I most certainly know when pasta is dry and when calamari is tough, chewy and flavorless. It doesn't matter to me how much Toscana sells. Perhaps if they focused less on selling 300 pounds a week and focused more on quality, I and the others who have written bad reviews would be happy and returning customers. For those interested, if you want a much better Italian experience in the relatively nearby area (all just off of Central) try the following: Joe & Guiseppe - (Central and Arthur in Arlington Heights) Giacomo's - (Central and Wolf in Des Plaines) Café Lucci - (Central and Milwaukee in Glenview) From my experiences, all three of these are far superior to Toscana and I highly doubt any of them would be so insulting to a customer who had a bad experience. Sorry Toscana, I guess my unsophisticated pallet simply doesn't understand your high quality. I am sure though that these other are happy to take my business.
(1)Laura N.
I married into an Italian family. They're half Italian and half Polish but the Italian side seems to dominate. The presence of Italian food is practically mandatory when we see each other. When we gather, we devour endless pasta and cheese and pizza and mozzerella sticks and all things carb-loaded and dairy-filled and meat-stuffed. My poor little stomach is bursting at the seams after these meals and my body suffers for the next few days from the overload of carbs and cheese. I'm sitting on the couch right now with a stuffed stomach from my Italian dinner earlier this evening. (I might need to spend the next few days drinking green juices to get my body back to its' normal self. And maybe a cupcake or two.) Anyway. Every year, we all get together in November and head out to my husband's grandfather's grave to put down a wreath, say a quick prayer, and swap storires. Then we go out to eat aftewards at an Italian restaurant. Tonight, we went to Toscana. Toscana is located in a nearly hidden strip mall that contains a senior center, an organization for people with disabilities, and one other restaurant/bar. It's very easy to overlook, yet, it was surpringly busy for a Sunday night. The back room had some kind of children's birthday party going on and nearly every table in the front was filled. Fortunately, our party of nine didn't have to wait and some tables were pushed together to quickly accommodate us. In fact, the entire staff was incredibly warm, friendly, and patient. They did what they could to make our experience pleasant. We started off with the generous baskets of delicious foccacia breads on the table. I think we went through six baskets before we even placed our order! YUM. The dinner menu was a basic Italian-American menu -- a few appetizers, many pasta dishes, a few chicken dishes, a few fish dishes, and more, with plenty of wines to choose from. I wanted to order fish but it was $17 for the fish, and just the fish alone. Pasta didn't come with it. Bummer. Because I hate spending too much money, I decided on penne primavera instead: pasta and mixed vegetables sauteed in garlic and olive oil. Everyone else had their preferred cheesy pasta dish. It wasn't long before our food arrived. The portions were just right: not too big (like usual chain establishments) and not too small. My penne primavera was delicious -- the garlic flavor was a bit strong but not overpowering, and the olive oil was generous but the food wasn't swimming in it. My mouth was happy. We were all happy. I hope this place becomes a regular destination for our crazy Italian family.
(4)Kejia Y.
We arrived there late Sunday night and there were fewer people than we expected. So we were able to be seated and place order right away. Food was good and came in big portion. We ordered boscaiola (light creamy homemade tomato sauce! Cream and tomato are well-balanced!), chicken marsala (smell good and tasted undoubtedly good too) and veal vesuvio (the roasted potato was a surprise. Crispy outside! No comment on the veal since this is my first time to try veal). In the end we had tiramisu as dessert. It was OK. Regular homey taste as that we usually make at home. But it was a big piece of dessert as we were all stuffed.
(4)Danielle S.
I was pretty disappointed by Toscana. I came here because of the good reviews, but unfortunately we didn't experience much good! When I first walked in, I said I needed a table for two. Both the hostess and another man (I'm guessing the owner/manager of sorts) rudely told me that I could either sit at the bar or leave. Hmmm...thanks I guess? Since I had already made plans to meet someone here, I stayed at the bar. The bartender was nice, but no matter where you go, the food service is never as good at the bar, because the bartender is too busy being a bartender. I felt rushed to make a food decision (the menu is pretty short and simple...not very creative or different). I ended up getting a glass of the house chardonnay (not that great), and the pasta with shrimp and white wine sauce. The pasta was hard, there wasn't much sauce, it was very garlicy, and the shrimp seemed overcooked. My friend said her pasta was hard as well. The salad was plain, but my friend said her soup was good. We were given bread which was decent, and you can make your own olive oil/cheese dipping sauce. Overall I ended spending $30 for a dinner that was not worth $30 at all. The atmosphere is cute, but this place is tiny and gets so busy. Before we left we had hoards of people standing behind us at the bar waiting for us to leave. We basically felt pressured to leave and it was not a good atmosphere to stay and have conversation (it was very loud...especially with people right behind you loudly talking). We had to ask for a box and our check since we had pretty much been forgotten about. Not a great experience at all. Wouldn't recommend it, and I won't be going back.
(2)Emily C.
Food is delicious I've never had anything bad. Stinks when it's crowded because it's a cramped dining room and the waiting room is the sidewalk. We get take out often since we have small children and it's always well packed and still eat in quality. We started going there after a very Italian foodie said she drives from Barrington to eat there. My only real complaint is that the coupons aren't good for take-out :(
(4)Jenny V.
Shat. this place is bumping on a friday night, super busy but the staff does a good job getting people in and out. The menu isnt that big but they had A LOT of specials, make sure you ask about the specials cause they are bomb ass. I got a fried chicken alfredo and my boyfriend got a stuff salmon (OMG) so good. moral of the review, go after the specials...and the pumpkin cheesecake, also really good. also make a reservation...
(4)Thomas S.
This place is in a strip mall, but that should not color your expectations about the food and service provided here. I ordered rigatoni with bolognese. I thought it was not the best I have had, but that is just because I like the bolognese at some other places better. The quality was very good. My wife and our friend ordered the carbonara and I had a little of that, too, and thought it was delicious. We ordered some of the mussels in white sauce, which my wife and our friend seemed to really enjoy. We also had some antipasto, which was pretty good. They serve bread on arrival, which I like, and it was nice and warm. Toscana is a simple restaurant. Not fancy at all, but nice enough, very comfortable, with very reasonable prices, friendly wait staff, and very good food. My wife and I plan to come back the next time we're in the neighborhood.
(4)Charlee G.
Good food, great service. Antipasto - very good; bread - the best anywhere; soup - good,; manicotti - good; prices - very good. Went for lunch on a Sunday. We had not been there in quite a while and found good food and excellent service. Is it the best Italian food I have ever had, no, but it is good. Only complaint was I found the ricotta filling in the manicotti to be quite bland, Prices are extremely reasonable and for under $50 we had two great lunches, large antipasto, two glasses of wine and leftovers for lunch tomorrow
(3)Sherwin C.
With so many great Italian restaurants around the Chicagoland area, I'm sure the only thing holding back Toscana from being recognized as one of the greatest is the size and decor. It's hidden from main streets in a strip mall in Arlington Heights. From the outside it doesn't really seem impressive and the dark interior fails to tell you much about the restaurant either. The only clue that you might be in for something special is the packed dining room at dinner. One place Toscana really shines is the food. They feature many reasonably priced daily specials and freshly prepared items. From the start, you'll enjoy bread that is baked several times a day, out directly from the oven. After that you have a choice of soup or salad, both of which are prepared to perfection. Then you will get to the star of the meal, the main entree. Unlike many Italian restaurants that have very similar dishes only different by sauce and pasta type, Toscana really puts in effort to make sure each dish tastes unique. Some of my favorites include: Sea bass with lemon and capers - Crispy seared fish with a delicately flaky inside. It's probably the next best thing to sushi if you don't enjoy your fish raw. Definitely a dish fish lovers should try. Mozzarella Caprese - A simple appetizer but the mix of cheese, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar are perfect in this dish. Calamari salad - The calamari is cooked slightly more raw here so that the softness comes out while still presenting a great flavor. I'm not even a big salad person but this was executed so perfectly I couldn't stop eating it. Lobster and crabmeat ravioli - Luxurious in a creamy sauce, get this whenever it's on the specials menu. It has a generous amount of seafood in a perfectly thin ravioli skin. Tortellini Paesano - One of the homemade pastas with a strong but not overpowering alfredo sauce perfectly counter balanced with mushroom and peas. Gnocchi - A guilty pleasure of many people, these chewy potato dumplings are also prepared very well here. Fried calamari linguini - They don't always have this but it's fried perfectly with generous amounts of calamari and will easily convert people used to fried shrimp. Linguini shrimp diavolo - It's not super spicy but just spicy enough to be enjoyable with perfectly cooked, tasty shrimp. Linguini broccoli and shrimp - Don't underestimate this dish because it has broccoli in it. One of the best parts of the dish is the tender broccoli perfectly sauteed in garlic and olive oil. The shrimp matches perfectly with almost an equally heavy flavor and texture. Chicken milanese - Crispy on the outside, juicy of the inside - this is a perfect substitute for broasted chicken. As I run close to my character limit for a review, I unfortunately can't describe any more of the amazing dishes this restaurant offers. However, make sure you finish the meal off with a delicious piece of their home made tiramisu. Buon Appetito!
(5)